Kangaroos as pets? Not in N.H.

If you live in New Hampshire and had plans to let a 6-foot marsupial from down under crash in your guest room, scratch them.

A legislative proposal that had sought to allow Granite Staters to own kangaroos and certain other animals as pets failed to win the support of lawmakers, who heard and expressed concerns about the impacts such wildlife could have on the state’s animal shelters and public safety.

“They can beat the crap out of somebody,” state Democratic Representative Catherine Sofikitis of Nashua warned of kangaroos during a legislative committee meeting March 5.

The bill — which also would allow private ownership of monkeys, raccoons, foxes, otters, and skunks — drew opposition from The Humane Society, the Animal Welfare Institute, the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, and others.

There already is a path under New Hampshire law for people to demonstrate their ability to care for such animals and secure an exhibitor’s permit.

The bill’s prime sponsor, Republican Representative Tom Mannion of Pelham, told the House Environment and Agriculture Committee last month that kangaroo ownership is allowed in 13 other states, including three without a permit, and he wants New Hampshire to hang onto its recognized status as a haven for liberty-minded people.

“I do not like to see other states outdoing New Hampshire,” he said. “We’ve been ranked the Number 1 freest state in the nation for many years running, but as evidenced here, there is always room to expand.”

While exotic animal dealers sell kangaroos in the US, the animals’ meat, hides, and other components are widely imported from Australia.

Mannion said the idea for this legislation originated on social media.

“This bill began its life as a Twitter request for pet monkeys and rapidly expanded into a wish list for cute, furry friends,” he said.

The committee voted 19-0 on Tuesday to recommend putting this proposal out to pasture. It will be up to the full House to decide whether to accept or reject the committee’s recommendation.